Until recently, persons in same-sex marriages were not eligible to receive Social Security benefits on their partner’s earning record even in those states that recognized same-sex marriage.The Supreme Court case of United States v. Windsordecided in June of 2013 changed that.Several months later, New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage.

Now persons in same-sex marriages are eligible to collect benefits based on their partner’s earning record including survivor’s benefits, disabled widow/widower benefits, and retirement benefits in some cases.A surviving spouse is entitled to the one-time $255 death benefit.

Social Security is now processing some retirement and surviving spouse claims for same-sex couples and paying benefits where they are due. There are many questions that remain unanswered. For example, what happens when a spouse begins to receive benefits and subsequently moves to a state that does not have same-sex marriage. In the coming months additional policy will be developed and implemented.

Perhaps the new policy will assist elderly lesbians in particular.According to a report by the Williams Institute of UCLA School of Law, 9.1 percent of lesbian couples 65 years of age and older live below the poverty line compared to 4.6 percent of heterosexual couples.

In some situations, the Windsor case may work to the detriment of those in same-sex unions.Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program.The income of the applicant’s spouse is taken into account which may reduce or eliminate SSI benefits.